Citation vs. Ticket: What’s the Difference?

What Is the Difference Between a Citation and a Ticket?

A ticket and citation are different words for the same thing: a reprimand you may receive upon getting caught breaking a traffic law.

It's worth noting that technically, there's a slight difference. A citation is the legal term for when a police officer gives written notice for a traffic violation, while a ticket is a more casual term sometimes used by drivers for the document they receive. They effectively have the same meaning, though.

Types of Citations

Traffic citations vary by jurisdiction and type. State laws differ, but in most places, offenses are usually grouped into moving violations (when your car is in motion) and nonmoving violations (when your car isn't in motion).

Moving Violations

Most traffic citations are issued for moving violations. Moving violations are typically considered more serious than nonmoving violations, and depending on where you live, they can lead to higher insurance rates or demerit points on your license. Some of the common violations in this category include:

• Running a stop sign
• Running a red light
• Speeding
• Making unsafe turns or lane changes

Nonmoving Violations

You might also receive a nonmoving violation, which includes no-nos such as:

• Illegal parking
• Expired registration
• Equipment violations, like a busted headlight
• In some places, failure to wear a seatbelt or texting while driving/distracted driving are classified under nonmoving violations even if the car is in motion.

There's also another type of citation: a warning, sometimes called a warning ticket. These are different from traditional tickets and citations. Some officers hand out these warnings, particularly for minor violations, to warn that a driver needs to correct their behavior—but without inflicting the harm of a ticket. Warnings don't result in a fine, court appearance, higher insurance rates or points taken from your license

What to Do if You Get a Citation or Ticket

When you receive a citation for a minor infraction, you typically have the option to admit guilt, pay a fine and be done with it. This can be advisable for more minor infractions, like nonmoving violations that don't require a court date. But don't ignore it: Failure to deal with the ticket and pay up can result in a suspended license.

Appear in Court

Some moving violations give you an option to contest the citation in traffic court, while others require a mandatory court date. Most regular, minor moving violations like speeding or running a red light are considered infractions or civil offenses and are dealt with in traffic court. You likely don't get a choice to have a jury decide; traffic court typically uses bench trials where a judge decides if you're guilty and what punishment you'll receive.

These judges often have the ability to lower your fines, so even if going to court is optional, it could help to go, plead guilty and request a reduced fine. A judge may be amenable if you can explain a hardship or provide a reasonable explanation for breaking the law.

If you believe you received the citation in error, it could be worthwhile to contest the charge and appear in court. You may choose to hire a lawyer to represent you, especially if you're at risk of serious consequences like a suspended license. Whether you go solo or with a lawyer, bring any evidence that can help make your case, including witness statements, photos or records.

When You Need a Lawyer

If your ticket was related to being in an accident, it's wise to consult with a lawyer and see if you should have representation since you could also get sued. For traffic court, you have to pay for an attorney out of pocket.

Also, more serious violations—think driving under the influence, driving recklessly or committing vehicular homicide or manslaughter—are handled in criminal court. In this case, you do have a right to appointed, government-paid counsel if you can't afford a lawyer.

How Does a Ticket Impact Your Car Insurance?

Receiving a ticket can impact your auto insurance rates upon renewal or when switching to a different insurer, primarily for moving violations. How much your rates go up depends on your state, the type of violation and the severity.

• How dangerous your violation was: The more reckless a violation, the more risk it poses to an insurer, so they'll raise rates more for serious infractions. Even for speeding, the impact to your insurance can vary by how much you were speeding.
• The type of violation: Most states don't report tickets for nonmoving violations (like illegal parking) on driving records, so tickets for these offenses likely won't impact your insurance rates.
• How you handle the ticket: If you admit guilt, you might be stuck with higher insurance rates, even if you attend a defensive driving class. However, if you have evidence in your favor and successfully contest the ticket in court, you might get away without an impact to your insurance.
• Whether this is your first citation in a while: If this is your first speeding ticket on an otherwise clean record, your insurer may not raise your rates. If you've racked up two or more speeding tickets in under three years, you're much likelier to receive higher rates upon renewal. States typically keep violations on driver records for three to five years. There are exceptions for more serious crimes; in California, for example, driving under the influence will impact your rates for a decade.
• If your insurer offers ticket forgiveness: Note that some (but not all) car insurers have a ticket forgiveness benefit. This typically means that if you're a driver without any similar traffic violations in the past three years, one ticket may not cause higher premiums. This may help incentivize drivers to avoid future violations.

How to Lower Car Insurance Costs After a Ticket

It may not be possible to do anything to lower your car insurance rates after a traffic ticket, but sometimes, a little research and effort can pay off.

• Take a defensive driving course. Some states allow drivers to get a violation removed from their record by attending traffic school, also known as a defensive driving course. However, if you admitted guilt for the violation, taking a class might not lower your rates.
• Adjust your coverage. If your new car insurance rates will bust your budget, consider reducing your coverage—as long as you maintain state-required minimums (and lender requirements if you're financing the car). You could also save money by raising your deductible. Slimming down your policy can be risky and leave you vulnerable to future out-of-pocket costs, so talk to your insurer to find out what you might be able to cut.
• Change vehicles. Some cars cost more to insure than others, regardless of whether you have traffic citations or not. If your current vehicle is pricey to insure, consider if it's worth changing to one that costs less.
• Avoid future tickets. To keep your car insurance rates from going higher, put your focus on driving safely and avoiding any future violations. Depending on where you live, this could be challenging, but it can help protect your finances.

The Bottom Line

Getting pulled over is never a pleasant experience, and you could face a steep fine, dings to your driving record and higher insurance rates.

Fortunately, increased insurance premiums typically only last for three years, and the tips above can help you reduce the impact. You might also cut costs by comparing policies and switching insurers. You can use Experian's free car insurance tool to compare quotes from top insurance companies to help you nab the best deal while you wait for the ticket to fall off your record.